Multiple unusual locations of hydatid cysts including bladder, psoas muscle and liver

Our case concerns 66-year-old female with a multiple unusual locations of hydatid cysts including bladder, psoas muscle and liver. Coexistence of hydatid cysts in these localizations has not been previously reported. The diagnosis of vesical hydatid cyst was facilitated by the coexistence of other echinococcosis locations. Treatment consists of the excision of the cysts in the same session without any postoperative anthelmintic drugs. In a two-year follow-up no recurrence has occurred.     

Molecular Diagnostic and Prognostic Subtyping of Gliomas in Tunisian Population

It has become increasingly evident that morphologically similar gliomas may have distinct clinical phenotypes arising from diverse genetic signatures. To date, glial tumours from the Tunisian population have not been investigated. To address this, we correlated the clinico-pathology with molecular data of 110 gliomas by a combination of HM450K array, MLPA and TMA-IHC. PTEN loss and EGFR amplification were distributed in different glioma histological groups. However, 1p19q co-deletion and KIAA1549:BRAF fusion were, respectively, restricted to Oligodendroglioma and Pilocytic Astrocytoma. CDKN2A loss and EGFR overexpression were more common within high-grade gliomas. Furthermore, survival statistical correlations led us to identify Glioblastoma (GB) prognosis subtypes. In fact, significant lower overall survival (OS) was detected within GB that overexpressed EGFR and Cox2. In addition, IDH1R132H mutation seemed to provide a markedly survival advantage. Interestingly, the association of IDHR132H mutation and EGFR normal status, as well as the association of differentiation markers, defined GB subtypes with good prognosis. By contrast, poor survival GB subtypes were defined by the combination of PTEN loss with PDGFRa expression and/or EGFR amplification. Additionally, GB presenting p53-negative staining associated with CDKN2A loss or p21 positivity represented a subtype with short survival. Thus, distinct molecular subtypes with individualised prognosis were identified. Interestingly, we found a unique histone mutation in a poor survival young adult GB case. This tumour exceptionally associated the H3F3A G34R mutation and MYCN amplification as well as 1p36 loss and 10q loss. Furthermore, by exhibiting a remarkable methylation profile, it emphasised the oncogenic power of G34R mutation connecting gliomagenesis and chromatin regulation.     

Salt stress reveals differential physiological,biochemical and molecular responses in <Emphasis Type="Italic">T. monococcum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">T. durum</Emphasis> wheat genotypes

Salt stress responses implicate a complex mechanism and differ from plant species to another. In this study, we analyzed the physiological, biochemical and molecular responses to salt stress of the diploid wheat (T. monococcum) and compared to the tetraploid wheat (T. durum). Our results showed that the diploid wheat cultivar (cv. Turkey) is relatively tolerant to different salt stress conditions than the tetraploid wheat cultivar (cv. Om Rabia3). This tolerance was manifested by significant germination, plant growth and uptake of water generating cell turgor and development. Moreover, total chlorophyll content was higher in the diploid wheat than that in the tetraploid wheat. The Na⁺ content in leaf blade of the cv. Om Rabia3 was significantly higher than that of the cv. Turkey, suggesting that the diploid cultivar accumulates less toxic sodium in the photosynthetic tissues. This mechanism could be explained by the recirculation of the toxic ions Na⁺ into the xylem sap by SOS1 protein, which coordinates with HKT-like proteins to reduce the accumulation of Na⁺ ions in leaf blade. Interestingly, the expression of the three genes SOS1, HKT and NHX was enhanced under salinity especially in leaf blade of the cv. Turkey. Moreover, this wheat cultivar induced the antioxidative enzymes CAT and SOD activity more efficiently than the other cultivar.     

Apoptose et ségrégation méiotique dans les spermatozoïdes d'hommes porteurs de translocations

Men with a chromosomal translocation produce a significant percentage of unbalanced spermatozoa. In order to determine a correlation between chromosomal anomalies and apoptosis in human sperm, we analysed DNA fragmentation and meiotic segregation in sperm from men with a (13;14) Robertsonian translocation. We studied sperm from 12 (13;14) translocation carriers and 9 proven fertile men with a normal karyotype. Meiotic segregation of chromosomes 13 and 14 was analysed using dual-colour fluorescencein situ hybridization with locus-specific probes for chromosomes 13 and 14. Apoptosis in spermatozoa was measured byin situ TUNEL assay. The meiotic segregation study showed a significantly increased frequency of unbalanced spermatozoa for chromosomes 13 and 14 in (13;14) carriers (15.9%) compared to the control population (1.3%) (p=0.00016). The study of apoptosis showed an increase of DNA fragmentation in (13;14) carriers (34.9%) compared to the control population (13.8%) (p=0.0036). This increased apoptosis was observed in spermatozoa presenting an increase of unbalanced chromosomal anomalies concerning chromosomes 13 and 14, but with a predominance of balanced spermatozoa compared to the theoretical risk of meiotic segregation. These results suggest that apoptosis could be involved as a regulatory mechanism to eliminate unbalanced chromosomal spermatozoa in men with a (13;14) Robertsonian translocation.     

Evaluation of auto-antibodies in chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis without endocrinopathy

Six patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMCC) were investigated for the presence of auto-antibodies during the course of the infection. Sera were tested for antibodies to native DNA (dsDNA) and denatured DNA (ssDNA), mitochondrial and microsomal antigens, smooth muscle, gastric parietal cells, basal membrane and skin intercellular substance, parathyroid glands, thyroglobulin and microsomal antigen, immunoglobulins and for anti-nuclear antibodies.Auto-antibodies were detected by radioimmunoassay, immunofluorescence, hemagglutination and other routine methods. Tests were performed at the end of the observation period, with the same batches of antigens and at the same time for all patients. Organ-specific antibodies (gastric parietal cells and intercellular substance) were found at low titers in five patients. Anti-smooth muscle antibodies were increased in two patients. In four patients antibodies to ssDNA were elevated. Moreover high titers of anti-ssDNA antibodies correlated well with disease activity after treatment with Ketoconazole in four tested patients. The possibility that C. albicans infection may induce auto-antibodies should be considered in assessing their disease activity significance in other chronic infected patients. The mechanisms of appearance of auto-antibodies and their immunopathological significance in CMCC are discussed.     

Immune receptor signaling, aging, and autoimmunity

With advancing age, the immune system undergoes changes that predispose to autoimmune reactivity. Aging reduces the efficiency of physical barriers, decreasing protection against invasive pathogens, and exposing previously hidden antigens in the body's own tissues. Self-antigens acquire alterations that increase their immunogenicity. In addition, the ability of innate immunity to eliminate infectious agents deteriorates, resulting in inappropriate persistence of immune stimulation and antigen levels exceeding the threshold for the activation of B or T cells. B cell turnover is reduced and numbers of na?ve T cells decline to the advantage of increasing numbers of memory T cells. In parallel, the loss of co-stimulatory T cell molecules may increase reactivity of T cells, and render them less susceptible to downregulation. Since optimal immune reactivity requires a tight balance of transduction pathways in both T and B lymphocytes, and because these pathways are altered in systemic autoimmune diseases, we would like to propose that, with age, alterations of the immune receptor signaling machinery underlie the higher incidence of autoimmune phenomena in the elderly. Consistently, aging is associated with alterations in several components of the signaling complex in B cells, memory and na?ve T cells, and a reduced activation of several lipid rafts-associated proteins. Because the coincidence of autoimmune disease with other ailments increases the burden of disease and limits therapeutic options in the aged, further investigation of these pathways in the elderly represents a challenge that will need to be addressed in order to devise effective preventive and therapeutic interventions.     

BARD1 expression during spermatogenesis is associated with apoptosis and hormonally regulated

The BRCA1-binding RING-finger domain protein BARD1 may act conjointly with BRCA1 in DNA repair and in ubiquitination, but it may also induce apoptosis in a BRCA1-independent manner. In this study, we have investigated BARD1 expression during spermatogenesis. In contrast with BRCA1, which is expressed only in meiotic spermatocytes and early round spermatids, BARD1 is expressed during all stages of spermatogenesis. However, while spermatogonia expressed full-length BARD1 mRNA, later stages of spermatocyte precursors express predominantly a novel, shorter splice form BARD1beta. BARD1beta lacks the BRCA1-interacting RING finger but maintains its proapoptotic activity. Consistently, BRCA1 can counteract the proapoptotic activity of full-length BARD1 but not of BARD1beta. Several lines of evidence suggest that BARD1 is involved in proapoptotic signaling in testis: i) both BARD1 isoforms are mostly found in cells that stain positive for TUNEL, Bax, and activated caspase 3; ii) BARD1beta, capable of inducing apoptosis even in the presence of BRCA1, is specifically expressed in BRCA1-positive later stages of spermatogenesis; iii) antiapoptotic hormonal stimulation leads to BARD1 downregulation; and iv) BARD1 expression is associated with human pathologies causing sterility due to increased germ cell death. Our data suggest that full-length BARD1 might be involved in apoptotic control in spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes, while a switch to the BRCA1-independent BARD1beta might be necessary to induce apoptosis in BRCA1-expressing meiotic spermatocytes and early round spermatids.     

Complementation of an Escherichia coli DnaK defect by Hsc70-DnaK chimeric proteins

Escherichia coli DnaK and rat Hsc70 are members of the highly conserved 70-kDa heat shock protein (Hsp70) family that show strong sequence and structure similarities and comparable functional properties in terms of interactions with peptides and unfolded proteins and cooperation with cochaperones. We show here that, while the DnaK protein is, as expected, able to complement an E. coli dnaK mutant strain for growth at high temperatures and lambda phage propagation, Hsc70 protein is not. However, an Hsc70 in which the peptide-binding domain has been replaced by that of DnaK is able to complement this strain for both phenotypes, suggesting that the peptide-binding domain of DnaK is essential to fulfill the specific functions of this protein necessary for growth at high temperatures and for lambda phage replication. The implications of these findings on the functional specificities of the Hsp70s and the role of protein-protein interactions in the DnaK chaperone system are discussed.     

Influence of CD14 on ligand interactions between lipopolysaccharide and its receptor complex

The interaction of LPS (endotoxin) with the CD14-TLR4 receptor complex modulates the host innate immune response. Several studies using partial structures of LPS have suggested that TLR4 determines the ligand specificity of this complex, and that CD14 indiscriminately serves to deliver the ligand to TLR4. This conclusion has been made despite observations that the response of TLR4(+/+),CD14(-/-) macrophages to LPS is very weak. To determine whether CD14 itself plays a role in specific ligand recognition, the influences of various partial structures of LPS on induction of the proinflammatory cytokine, TNF, by CD14(+/+) and CD14(-/-) macrophages were compared. These studies show that the ligand specificities of CD14(+/+) and CD14(-/-) macrophages are very different. When CD14 is present, the receptor complex shows exquisite specificity for smooth LPS, the major form expressed by Gram-negative bacteria; however, as increasing amounts of carbohydrate are removed from smooth LPS, the sensitivity of CD14(+/+) macrophages decreases as much as 500-fold. In contrast, CD14(-/-) macrophages are unable to distinguish between smooth LPS and its various partial structures. Furthermore, CD14(-/-) macrophages are 150,000-fold less sensitive than CD14(+/+) macrophages to smooth LPS. A similar ability to distinguish the differing LPS structures of various bacteria such as Bacteroides fragilis and Salmonella abortus are observed for CD14(+/+), but not CD14(-/-), macrophages. Thus, CD14(+/+), but not CD14(-/-), macrophages are highly sensitive to stimulation by natural forms of LPS and show the ability to distinguish between various LPS ligands, consistent with CD14 being a highly specific receptor.     

Isolation of Enterobacteria able to degrade simple aromatic compounds from the wastewater from olive oil extraction

Summary Enterobacteria growing on wastewater from olive oil extraction were selected. Among this microflora, strains of Klebsiella oxytoca and Citrobacter diversus able to degrade simple monomeric aromatic compounds were isolated by enrichment culture of the effluent lacking simple sugars. In this preliminary investigation, the phenolic acids tested on solid and liquid media were gentisic, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, benzoic, vanillic and ferulic. It was shown that the biodegradation of an aromatic acid is tightly dependent on both the type and the position of the radical substituted on the aromatic ring. Citrobacter was the most efficient strain in metabolizing ferulic acid in liquid medium at a concentration of 1.5 g/l. The substrate biodegradation yield achieved exceeded 86%.